Dakota Recreation Report: January 11, 2021

Outdoor notes:

*Ice is never completely safe. Avoid areas with vegetation, moving water, pressure ridges and springs. Check conditions as you go along on the ice and don’t move around at night.

*North Dakota state parks remain open with trails usable for hiking. Check with individual parks for other available amenities this winter.

Tournaments

(check with event organizers for scheduling updates):

*Jan. 16: Lake Josephine, Lake Ashtabula.

Fishing:

*Devils Lake elevation, Jan. 5: 1,448.51 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

*Stump Lake elevation: 1,448.44 MSL.

*Lake Sakakawea elevation: 1,838.45 MSL; 16,200 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

*N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: Devils Lake spotty for walleye and perch. Lots of activity throughout many Wells County lakes with spotty success. Access remains good with improving ice conditions. Continue checking ice conditions, however, with variability in depth. Lots of activity on Lake Audubon but generally slow walleye success. No Lake Sakakawea reports, which had open water on the main lake on the east end early in the week.

*Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait Shop, Devils Lake: Fair to good perch success. Work shallow to intermediate depths with some activity in deeper water. Locate structure for walleye in less than 20 feet. Some nice-sized pike mixed in with spearing and hook-and-line. Look for areas with clear water for spearing.

*Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Minnewaukan: Fair success but activity slowed somewhat. Improving ice but conditions vary so use extreme caution.

*Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Devils Lake: Fair walleye and perch success with more activity on the east end, including Black Tiger Bay. Try 25 to 30 feet for perch with wax worms or small tungsten jigs. Work early morning or late afternoon for walleye using rattling presentation. Ice depth varies greatly, however.

*Foster County area lakes, Dry Dock, Carrington: Increasing activity throughout area lakes for perch and walleye as ice conditions improve. Continue using caution, however.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait & Tackle, Jamestown: Lots of activity throughout area lakes for walleye and perch. Occasional pike.

*Jamestown Reservoir, Sooper Stop, Jamestown: Continued walleye success throughout most small area lakes using minnows. Try wax worms for perch and smelt for pike.

*Lake Ashtabula, Ashtabula Crossing, Luverne: Anglers accessing the crossing from the west side with ATVs and UTVs. Watch for pressure ridge by the creek and corresponding unsafe ice. Water levels are drawn down on the lake. It’s best to use caution and not take pickups and heavy vehicles on the ice throughout the lake and upper end. Lots of activity with anglers using portable houses. Fair to good for a mix of perch, pike, and walleye. Try a mix of jigs and tip-ups.

*Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: Scattered walleye and perch success with more anglers taking portable houses out. Use caution yet with ongoing varying ice depth issues yet.

*Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Lots of activity on Lake Audubon with some walleye success and a few perch mixed in. Most activity remains on the east side of the lake but more houses are out along Totten Trail boat ramp. Lake Sakakawea’s main lake remains open on the east end with marginal ice conditions in many back bays yet.

*Lake Sakakawea/Lake Audubon/Missouri River, Scott’s Bait and Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River tailrace remains slow, including the wing walls. Try the boat ramp area from shore or casting crankbaits off the rocks at night for walleye.

*Lonetree WMA area lakes, Harvey: Goose Lake continues producing lots of small perch.

*Pipestem Reservoir and Spiritwood Lake, Jamestown: Look for some pike activity.

Downhill skiing (conditions can vary):

*Bottineau Winter Park, Bottineau: Open Friday through Sunday. Contact (701) 263-4556 for more information.

*Buena Vista Ski Area, Bemidji, Minn.:18- to 30-inch packed powder base with 4 runs open.

*Frostfire Ski Area, Walhalla: Four runs open. Contact (701) 549-3600 for schedule and COVID-19 information.

*Huff Hills Ski Area, Mandan: Open Saturday and Sunday with machine groomed, packed powder condition. 40% of the Terrain Park and runs available with three lifts.

Snowmobile N.D .:

*Trails remain closed until better snow conditions.

Numbers to know:

*N.D. Game and Fish Department, main Bismarck office: (701) 328-6300, website: (http://gf.nd.gov).

*N.D. Game and Fish Department, Devils Lake office: (701) 662-3617.

*N.D. Game & Fish Department, Jamestown office: (701) 253-6480.

*Report All Poachers: (800) 472-2121 or (701) 328-9921.